Machine for spreading road surfacing material



Feb. 19, 1952 E. TRAMPLER 2,586,396

MACHINE FOR SPREADING ROAD SURFACING MATERIAL Filed March 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fig. 36\ o Inventor Ed ward- Tramp/er B), WW 3% Fe 9, 1952 E. TRAMPLER MACHINE FQR SPREADING ROAD SURFACING MATERIAL Fil'ed March 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3.

4 2 8 a m w. 2 8 7 44 I x Ill w 4 4 2 3 5 2 MN 3 m l J J ))\i L. 3 a w w 0 N 3 7 8 Z 9 4v 4 w W I 5 4 2 5 I 5 W m 2 o 3 4 0 l .v m 0 m m w 9 w In veutor Edward Tramp/er Feb. 19, 1952 E. TRAMPLER 2,586,396

MACHINE FOR SPREADING ROAD SURFACING MATERIAL Filed March 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 o 47 38 3f 6 ID? V r 60 35 i @maafiw.

WW Zf/mzg Feb. 19, 1952' E. TRAMPLER 2,586,396

MACHINE FOR SPREADING ROAD SURFACING MATERIAL Filed March 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F l" 7. v 29 44 g 45 44 28 109 10a 108 Fly In Veutor Edward Tr amp/er WWW M Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR SPREADING ROAD SURFACING MATERIAL 11 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a road surfacing machine,.

of a practical light duty type, such as is used for containing, delivering and spreading different kinds of road bed covering and surfacing materials such as sand, gravel and aggregate but which has more particular reference to a relatively small machine, some eight feet more-orless in length, which is ideally and expressly designed and efiiciently adapted to deposit and properly tamp black top on walkways, garage driveways and the like.

As implied in the foregoing general statement of my invention, I am aware that special machines for the stated purposes are not broadly new and that varied and many types and styles have been developed by others working in this same field of endeavor. Therefore, my primary object is to provide a novel rollable hopper equipped machine which is attachable to the trailing end of a powering and supply truck and is such that users will find their. needs fully met, contained and, above all, conveniently available for regulable control.

In reducing to practice the preferred embodiment of my overall ideas, exceeding care has been exercised to include all worthy requirements and the necessary expedients for reliable and full attainment of the wanted ends.

More specifically, a novel phase of the invention has to do with an aptly suitable carriage to the trailing end of which a material containing and dispensing hopper is attached, the constricted lower end portion of said hopper defining a material discharge slot or opening, said opening being normally closed by valving means which latter is characterized by a plurality of complemental forwardly and downwardly swinging valve plates which are rigged up so that they may be Worked collectively or in unison or, when conditions require, may be individually operated whereby to permit the attendant to lay a spread of material reaching the entire length of the discharge opening or a narrow strip of one, two or three feet if desired.

In connection with the special valving means alluded to, novel mechanical devices are employed to enable the attendant to singly and collectively open and close the companion valves with requisite certainty and reliability notwithstanding the fact that the valves are, ordinarily, concealed by the load of dischargable material in the stated hopper.

An equally important object of the invention has to do with an adjustably mounted plate structure on the rearward portion of the hopper which structure functions as an impacting and levelling screed and, in addition, provides a transporting platform for the attendant.

Then, too, novelty is predicated upon a simple rectangular plate which spreads and levels the material as it is discharged from the hopper, functions as a runningboard or platform for the attendant and is vertically raisable and lowerable and independently tiltable so that its elevation may be staged and set to permit the material to be laid thick or thin according to specifications and properly leveled off even though the road bed may incline relative to one or the other end of the machine while the latter is traversing said road bed.

In addition, and having to do with the appropriateness of the multiple purpose screed, I would stress too the lever means, leveling jacks and linkage devices to satisfactorily achieve the required adjustment needs of the screed.

Supplementing the objectives briefly touched upon above it is an added object to provide a simple yet effective wheeled carriage or truck which suspends and properly positions the hopper, the same having steerable wheels which may be controlled by levers from the stated platform and which is such that it may be balanced and hitched to a conventional supply truck, for example, a dump truck.

Of further importance, but somewhat auxiliary, is the provision-of a spring cushioned apron-like chute on the upper end of the forward wall of the hopper which permits gravitation of the source of supply, from the main truck, into the hopper.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description of the accompanying illustrative drawmgs.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a black top containing, distributing and spreading machine of the type herein under advisement, with a portion of the chute broken away.

Figure 2 is an end elevation with a portion of one of the parts broken away to reveal the valve means.

Z hop-per and valve controlled rod and associated means.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective, with parts in elevation, showing an end portion of the material leveling screed-platform.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear elevation observing the structure of Figure 2 in a direction from left to right.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail view in section and elevation, taken on the line B-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section and elevation taken on the line 99 of Figure l.

Taking up now the various views of the drawings, and describing same with distinguishing reference numerals and attending lead lines, I will cover first the phase which I call the wheel supported carriage. Referring first to Figures 3 and 4, the main frame, which is U-shaped in top plan view, is made up of channel irons and is denoted, as a unit, by the numeral l5. This frame is suspended by auxiliary channel-irons l5a on and carried by a two-wheeled truck which embodies an axle i6 with rubber tired wheels I! and i8 at opposite ends. Mounted in the endyokes I9 and are knuckle joints 2l-2I one including a steering arm 22. A tubular operating shaft 23 is mounted for oscillation in suitable bearings 24 on the forward portion of the frame and this shaft has a rocker arm 25 carrying a link 26 which is connected to the steering arm of the knuckle joint, the arm 22 seen at the right in Figure 3. A tie rod 21 serves to connect the two knuckle joint units 2I-2l together for simultaneous operation. Connected to opposite left and right hand end portions of the rocker shaft 23 are optionally usable actuating reach levers 28 and 29. These levers are relatively long in order that they may be accessible for ready usage in a manner to be hereinafter described. The irons 15a are suitably attached as at 30 (see Fig. 4) to the wheel supported axle. Thus, we have a two-wheeled truck with steerable wheels carrying the frame l5, a rocker shaft on the frame, levers for oscillating the rocker shaft, and link means whereby motion of the rocker shaft transmitted to the steering arms and interconnected knuckle joints on the respective wheels.

Also as shown in Figure 4, there is a suitable tubular brace at 3| which is horizontal and a pair of braces 32 and 33 (see Figs. 3 and 4) which serve to accommodate a draft tongue 35 having an appropriate hitch 36 which is adapted to be coupled to a dump-type material transporting and supply truck (not shown). The tongue 35 is adjustably mounted between the angle irons or braces 32 and 33 as shown at 31 in Fig. 4. The carriage may also be said to include four inverted U-shaped prop units 38 which are longitudinally spaced, as best brought out in Fig. 3.

The hopper as a unit, is denoted by the numeral 39 and comprises end walls 4040 and front and rear walls 4| and 42 respectively. The latter walls converge and the aforementioned discharge slot or opening is provided between the lower end portions thereof as brought out in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring again to the carriage means, it will be seen that the frame 15 is attached to the front wall M and that the brace irons 32 and 33 are likewise attached as is clear from Figs. 3 and 4. The front wall is slightly shorter than the rear wall 42 and provided with lugs 43 to accommodate flanges 44 carried by a chute 45. In fact, the

. flanges are hinged to the lugs as at 48 (see Fig. 4)

The chute serves to feed the material from the main supply truck into the hopper, as is obvious. Therefore, the lower end projects slightly down into the upper portion of the hopper as seen in Fig. 4. To provide the desired flexibility, the chute has headed pins 41 which are slidable through openings provided therefor in the bight portions of the U-props 38. The numerals 48 designate cushioning springs which surround the pins and are interposed between the chute and said bight portions. Referring momentarily to the interior of the hopper, I call attention to the metal strips 49 and 50 (see Figs. 1 and 4) and these incline downwardly and outwardly and help to distribute the incoming material as it is emptied from the supply truck into the hopper. Also, see the numerals 51 and 52 which constitute stabilizing braces (Figure 1). As previously stated, the hopper is approximately some eight feet in length and is adapted to extend transversely across the road bed which is to be surfaced. This eight-foot discharge opening is normally closed by a series (eight) of valve members or plates 53. These are hingedly mounted as at 54 on the lower edge of the rear wall 42. Incidentally; the numerals 55 designate shields which are slidably mounted on the exterior of the end walls 40 and project down somewhat in alignment with the valved slots and ride in close relation to the marginal edges of the surface to be covered. The shields or edges are slotted and bolted in'place as at 56 (see Fig. 2). At this time, I call attention to the upper or inside surfaces of the valve plates and it will be noticed in Fig. 5 that they are provided with pairs of lugs 51 and couplings 58 are hinged between the lugs as at 59. These hinged couplings serve to provide adjusting anchors for a plurality of push-pull rods 60. There is one rod 60 for each valve and therefore the valves .may be individuallyopened or closed. A novel arrangement is provided, however, wherebyall of the rods may be simultaneously operated and so that all valves operate in unison. In this connection, I call attention to a second horizontal rocker shaft 6| which is mounted for oscillation in suitable bearings provided therefor on the rear upper edge portions of the rear hopper wall 42. This upper edge portion is provided with an angle iron whose horizontal flange 62 overlies the mouth portion of the hopper. It is provided with longitudinally arranged transverse slots 63 which serve to accommodate the coacting end portions of the push-pull rods 50. The upper ends of the rods are laterally bent to provide grips 64. Each rod is also provided with a lateral pin 65 which constitutes a detent and this is adapted to be releasably engaged with the furcations or fork elements 56 on the curvate rocker arms or fingers 61. The latter are welded or otherwise connected at B8 to the rocker shaft. The normal position of the detent in relation to the fork means would be as shown at the right in Fig. 5. The releasable position would be as shown at the left. As

stated, the rods are turnable or rotatable in relation to the hinged connections of the valve plates 53. When allof the rods are coupled to the rocker fingers 61 as shown to the right in Fig. 5, the valves may be simultaneously raised and lowered. This is done by end levers 69.

These levers are fastened as at 10 to the project ing end portions of the rocker shaft 6|. There are two levers and either one may be operated for valve operational purposes. Also there are extension wings Tl on the upper edge portions of the end walls 40 and these have keeper holes 18 to receive the keeper pins 19 as shown in Fig. 2. This means therefore, that by catching hold of either lever and rocking the shaft, all of the rocker fingers are oscillated. It also means that when the detent ends of the rods '60 are connected with the rocker fingers as shown at the right in *5, the valves'are either opened or closed; It is obvious too that the valves are not only Simultaneously operable in unitary or collective fashion but also individually operable according to choice. Take for example at the left in Fig. 5 when it is desired to open the left hand levers 91 (see Fig. 2).

valve, by lifting up on the rod and disengaging it fromthe fork fingers 6.6, the rod may then be lowered and, if necessary, passed downwardly through the slot with the detent going through the slot 63. Thus, we have a plurality of hingedly mounted valves, lifting and lowering rods at-- tached to each .valve, detent means on the upper handle equipped end of the rods and separable connections between the detents and the lifting' and lowering fingers on the rocker shaft 6|.

I now direct attention to the leveling device on the rear or trailing end of the hopper referred to broadly by the numeral 88 and functioning as both a screed as well as an attendants platform. Said device 88 comprises a flat rectangular plate 8| having angle irons 82 attached transversely to its outer ends. The depending vertical flanges of the angle irons serve as confining elements for the surfacing material as is obvious. Also adjacent said transverse ends, th plate 8| carries pairs of upstanding cars 83 and pivoted at 84 between each pair of ears (see Figs. 6 and 7) is a slide 85. The construction at each end is the same and the same reference numerals apply. The slide (Fig. 6) is operable between a pair of spaced parallel guide flanges 85 having aligned elongated slots 81 to accommodate a. keyin pin 88. The forward edge portion of the plate, the

edge 89, rests on and is fulcrumed on a substantially V-shaped angle iron 98. The vertical flange of the angle iron is nested and substantially concealed beneath an offset lower edge portion 9| bent from an apron plate 92 which latter is in slidable contact with the exterior surface of the hopper rear wall 42. At this stage and referring again to Fig. 6, I call attention to an additional pair of guide flanges 93 which are fixed in place with their lower end portions are notched at 3 to provide clearance spaces and to allow the apron 92 to be slid up and down between said flanges 93 and said hopper wall 42. If desired, the outermost end portions of the apron plate 92 may also ride in similar cut-away notches or clearance spaces in the innermost ones of the first named guide flanges 86. Thus, the apron 92 has its lower ofiset end 9| overlapping and coacting with the vertical flange of the V-iron 98 and the edge portion 89 of the screed plate 8i rests and fulcrums upon the horizontal flange of said V-iron. It is desirable that the entire-as sembly (made up of parts 8|, 92 and the intervening iron travel up and down in relation to the guide flanges and hopper and this is permitted by the limited movement of the slide 85 between said guide flanges 86 and the pin and slot connections 88 and 81 respectively. Independent vertical tilting is permitted by the horizontal hinge connections 84 between the ears 83 and slide 85. The edge 89 rocks on the horizontal flange of the V-iron 98. Consequently, the plane of the screed may be lifted and lowered depending on the thickness of the material to be laid and in addition, the screed may be independently tilted for leveling purposes.

The means for bodily changing the plane and lifting and lowering the screed or platform 8! is manually controllable and comprises a shaft (see Fig. 6) which is 'journaled for rotation in bearings provided therefor in the respective pairs of flanges 86 and 93. The projecting end .portions 9.6 of said shaft carry rigidly attached operating The lever has a locking pin 83 intermediate its ends which is selectively seatable in keeper holes 99 provided in a keeper bracket I913 fastened to the hopper end wall 40. Linkage devices denoted by the numerals 18! are interposed between the respective levers 91 and platform means. Each linkage is broadly a turnbuckle and one element thereof I02 is connected with the lever 91 and the other element 183 is connected with a lifting and lowering link H14 carried by the adjacent end portion of the V-iron 90. Obviously, therefore, by raising and lowering the levers 91, the linkage devices come into play to lift and lower the screed or platform means 88. That is to say, the slides 85 work up and down between the flanges 86 and lift and lower the plate 8% through the medium of the vertically liftable and lowerable apron 92 and companion V-iron 98. It may be necessary to lift one transverse end of the screed plate higher than the other to allow for inclined road bed surfaces and also may be necessary to independently tilt the plate 8| forwardly or rearwardly in relation to the hopper. To accomplish this, I provide jack screws Hi5 having hand cranks I86 at their upper ends. Referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that each set of flanges 93 carries rigidly attached outstanding arms 18? and these arms are provided with headed pins I88 which serve to mount a feed nut Hill in place. The threaded portion of the screw is worked therefore through the nut and the nut is self-leveling by way of .its pinned connection with the arms 187. A boxing I0 is attached to the plate 8| beneath the jack screw and the lower end of the screw is swivelly connected thereto as at Ill. By way of these two jack screws (see Fig. '7) it is possible to elevate the right hand or left hand transverse end of the screed and also to efiect a rearward or forward tilting. Consequently, it is believed that sumcient adjustments are available to enable the attendant, standing on the platform, to accomplish required adjustments of the screed for properly spreading, sanding and gauging the thickness of the black top which is being laid.

It is submitted that it is novel to attach a carriage or framework embodying a steerable truck to the forward wall of a hopper and to associate with the hopper and prop means on said carriage a satisfactory chute for delivering black top'from a supply truck into the hopper. The general capacity of the hopper will be approximately two tons.

Novelty is predicated upon the levers connected to the rocker shaft at the front, said levers 28 being within convenient reach of the attendant standing on the platform whereby to permit the machine to be guided in forward or reverse movement.

Added novelty has to do with the bodily liftable and lowerable leveling plate or platform structure attachable to the rear wall of ahopper with mechanical connections between the forward edge portion of the plate and the wall of a hopper to allow the plate to be lifted and lowered to change the horizontal plane and then tilted in relation to said plane either rearwardly or forwardly or to permit one transverse end, either left or right, to be lowered more-or-less to thus be in a position to properly locate the plate for effective results. Of outstanding importance, as before stated, is the valve and controls whereby it is possible to open all valves and to lay the black top for approximately a path eight feet wide, or to be able to dispense the strips approximately one foot wide, the width of each valve plate.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufe ficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A road surfacing material carrier and spreader comprising a mobile carriage, a material containing and depositing hopper mounted on and operable in conjunction with said carriage and having an elongated discharge opening in its bottom through which said material is allowed to gravitate upon the road bed or other surface to be covered, a plurality of separate valve plates individually hinged to the lower edge portion of the rear wall of said hopper, said plates serving to normally close said discharge opening and being swingable, singly and collectively, forwardly and downwardly to deliver the material from the hopper onto the road bed, a single rocker shaft commensurate in length with an mounted for oscillation on said hopper, operating levers secured to said rocker shaft for oscillating same, and operating means between the rocker shaft and valve plates including individual rods hingedly connected at their lower ends to the respective valve plates and selectively usable operating connections between the upper ends of the rods and said rocker shaft, said operating connections being disengageable, whereby said rods may be handcontrolled independently of said rocker shaft.

2. A road surfacing material carrier and spreader comprising a mobile carriage, a material containing and depositing hopper mounted on and operable in conjunction with said carriage and haw'ng an elongated discharge opening in its bottom through which said material is allowed to gravitate upon the road bed or other surface to be covered, a plurality of valve plates hingedly attached to the lower edge portion of the rear wall of said hopper, said plates collectively serving to normally close said discharge opening and being swingable forwardly and downwardly to de- 'liver the material onto the road bed, a. rocker shaft mounted on said hopper, operating levers secured to said rocker shaft for oscillating same, and operating connections between the rocker shaft and valve plates including individual rods hingedly connected at their lower ends to said valve plates and operating connections between the upper ends of the rods and said rocker shaft, the latter including individual rocker members secured at longitudinally spaced points to said rocker shaft and the upper ends of said rods being releasably connected to said rocker members, whereby said valve plates may be selectively and individually opened and closed by manually actuating said rods.

3. A material containing and depositing hopper provided at its bottom with a discharge opening, a plurality of valve plates hinged on the rear wall of said hopper and normally in a plane with each other and closing said discharge opening, a horizontal flange attached to the upper edge portion of said hopper and overlying the hopper and provided with longitudinally spaced slots, a rocker shaft mounted .for oscillation on said rear wall and provided with rocker arms, the free ends of therocker arms being bifurcated and the furcations defining forks, operating levers connected to the end portions of said rocker shaft for actuating the rocker shaft, an operating rod for each valve plate, said rod being hingedly and turnably con-i nected at its lower end to the .coacting valve plate, the upper end of the rod having a handgrip and an outstanding detent pin, said pin work-.- able through the coacting slot in said flange, said pin being also releasably engageable with the furcations, whereby to permit the rods to be collectively connected with the rocker shaft for simultaneous operations, or to be individually released to permit the valve plate to be opened and closed at will.

4. In a material container and spreader of the class described, a portable hopper having a discharge opening at its bottom, a valve plate hingedly mounted on said hopper and serving to open and close said opening, a pair of lugs mounted on said valve plate, a coupling hingedly connected to said lugs, a flange mounted on the upper portion of said hopper and having a rod confining guide slot, a rod passing downwardly through said slot and connected at its lower end with said coupling, the upper end portion of said rod being bent to form a handle and being provided with an outstanding pin constituting a detent, said detent being cooperable with said slot, a rocker shaft mounted for oscillation on said hopper, an operating lever for said rocker shaft, a curved rocker arm carried by said rocker shaft and overlying said slotted flange, the free end of said rocker arm being bifurcated to provide a fork, the detent equipped end of said rod being releasably connectable with said fork.

5. In a material container and spreader of the class described, a portable hopper having a dis charge opening at its bottom, a valve plate hingedly mounted on said hopper and serving to open and close said opening, a pair of lugs mounted on said valve plate, a coupling hingedly connected to said lugs, a flange mounted on the upper portion of said hopper and having a rod confining and guide slot, a rod passing downwardly through said slot and swivelly connected at its lower end with said coupling, the upper end portion of said rod being bent to form a handle and being provided with an oustanding pin constituting a detent, said detent being cooperable with said slot, a rocker shaft mounted for oscillation on said hopper, an operating lever for said rocker shaft, a curved rocker arm carried by said rocker shaft and overlying said slotted flange, the free end of said rocker arm being bifurcated to provide a fork, the detent equipped end of said rod being releasably connectable with said fork, and a screed plate hingedly mounted on the lower portion of said hopper, said screed plate also functioning as a platform for an attendant and said lever being located within convenient reach of said platform.

6. A loose material containing and spreading machine of the class described comprising a hopper having a valved discharge opening at its bottom and including converging front and rear walls and end walls connecting said front and rear walls, a horizontal frame rigidly attached to and extending forwardly from said forward wall, supporting wheels for said frame, a draft tongue mounted on said frame and projecting beyond same and provided with a hitch for connection with a powering vehicle, a chute hingedly mounted on the upper edge of the front wall and discharging into said hopper, inclining brace means connected with the front wall and frame respectively, said tongue being adjustably connected with said brace means, inverted U-frames connected with said horizontal frame and front wall, pins carried by said chute and connected with said U -frames, and coiled cushioning springs surrounding the respective pins and interposed between the chute and coacting U-frames.

'7. A material containing, depositing and spreading machine of the class described comprising a portable carriage, a valved hopper including front, rear and end walls, said front wall connects to said carriage, a horizontal angle iron, means slidably connecting said angle iron with the exterior side of said rear wall, a plate horizontally disposed and constituting a screed and platform, the forward edge portion of said plate bein supported by and fulcrumed on the horizontal flange of said angle iron, levers hingedly mounted on opposite ends of said hopper, adjustable linkage connections between said levers and angle iron for lifting and lowering the angle iron and complemental plate, vertically disposed manually actuatable jack screws, means connecting same operatively with the rear wall of the hopper, and means connecting the lower ends of said jack screws with underlying portions of said plate.

8. A material containing and depositing hopper of the class shown and described provided at its horizontal bottom with a discharge opening, a plurality of fiat valve plates hingedly mounted at corresponding ends on the lower end of the rear wall of said hopper and collectively and normally in a plane with each other and closing said discharge opening, a rocker shaft mounted for oscillation on the upper portion of the rear wall and provided with rocker arms projecting laterally therefrom and overlying the open top of said hopper, hand controlled operating levers connected to the end portions of said rocker shaft for operating the rocker shaft, an operating rod for each valve plate, said rod depending vertically through the open top of the hopper, said rods being hingedly connected at their respective lower ends to the respective coacting valve plates to permit said plates to be lifted to closed positions and swung downwardly to open positions, the respective upper ends of said rods being detachably connected with the coacting rocker arms whereby to permit the rods to be collectively connected with the rocker arms for simultaneous operation in conjunction with the rocker shaft and levers; or, to be individually released from the rocker arms to permit any one or more of the valve plates to be opened and closed at will.

9. A material containing, dispensing and spreading machine of the class shown and described comprising a carriage having steerable wheels, a hopper having front, rear and end walls, said front wall being rigidly connected to and supported and moved by said carriage, the lower portion of said hopper, rearwardly of said carriage, having a discharge opening for the material contained in said hopper, a horizontal platform plate adiustably connected to and projecting laterally from the lower end portion of the rear wall of said hopper, a horizontally disposed angle bar slidably mounted on said rear wall, an

apron contacting and slidably mounted on said rear wall and having its lower edge portion overlapping one of the flanges of said angle iron, lever controlled linkage devices supported from said rear wall for raising and lowering said angle bar and apron in conjunction with each other and also simultaneously raising and lowering the plate and controllable by the attendant standing on said plate, remote control levers for controlling the aforementioned wheels, said levers extending toward said rear wall and being accessibly operable by the attendant standing on said plate, a plurality of valve plates normally closing the opening in the hopper, said plates being collectively and individually openable and closable, and control means for the valve plates also supported in close proximity to said rear wall and above said plate and accessible to the attendant on the plate to permit the valve plates to be selectively opened and closed to meet dispensing and spreading requirements.

10. A loose material containing, dispensing and spreading machine of the class shown and described comprising a hopper having valved discharge means at its bottom, mobile carriage means for said hopper, said hopper embodying front, rear and interconnecting end walls, a horizontally disposed angle iron in slidable contact with the exterior surface of said rear wall, a lever controlled rocker shaft mounted on the upper portion of said rear wall, adjustable operating connections between said rocker shaft and the end portions of said angle iron for lifting and lowering the angle iron, an apron having vertically slidable contact with the exterior surface of said rear wall and having its lower endprovided with a laterally offset flange slidably overlapping a coacting vertical flange of said angle iron, a horizontally disposed plate constituting a combination screed and platform, said plate being disposed in a horizontal plane at right angles to said hopper, one edge portion of said plate resting on the horizontal flange of said angle iron, means carried by the respective end portions of said plate and hingedly attached to said plate, said means being slidably attached to the adjacent end portions of the rear wall of said hopper, jack screws mounted operatively on said rear wall and operable by the attendant on the platform, said jack screws being operatively connected with said plate.

11. The structure specified in claim 10, in conjunction with a rocker shaft mounted on said rear wall above said plate, operating means therefor actuatable by the attendant standing on said plate, whereby said operating means and screw jacks, as well as the aforesaid operating connections, may all be conveniently and accessibly actuated by an attendant standing on said plate.

EDWARD TRAMPLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,702,666 Nickerson Feb. 19, 1929 1,736,413 Lichtenberg Nov. 19, 1929 2,109,020 Abernathy Feb. 22, 1938 2,267,022 Gledhill Dec. 23, 1941 2,303,486 McConnaughay Dec. 1, 1942 2,403,820 Miller July 9, 1946 

